Combating Cardiovascular Diseases on a Chip

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Organ-on-a-chip technology is a promising breakthrough in the quest to find out more about these diseases and in testing new drugs to fight them. Prof. Christine Mummery and Prof. Robert Passier, both of whom combine their work at Leiden University Medical Centre with recent appointments at the University of Twente, are dedicated to improving patient care using organs-on-a-chip. This is an interdisciplinary field par excellence: cooperation is essential. On 10 March, the two professors will deliver their inaugural address at the University of Twente.

Despite the development of improved methods to treat cardiovascular diseases, these life-threatening conditions are still very difficult to cure. Research into diseases and drug development employs a variety of testing systems, ranging from laboratory animals to animal cells in culture dishes. The disadvantage is that these often differ greatly from human systems; the heart of a mouse beats 500 times a minute, for example, a very different proposition to the human heart rate of 60 beats a minute.

Organs-on-a-chip, made from patient’s own genetic material, could be a godsend. With an organ-on-a-chip, the structure and the development of an organ can be simulated on a small scale as accurately as possible. The chip on which the organ is placed uses micro-channels to supply cells with blood, nutrients, and, possibly, drugs. This set-up also allows researchers to make accurate measurements in the organ.

Reprogramming

In order to develop these tiny organs we need stem cells: these are special cells that have the potential to develop into many different types of tissue. The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) – normal cells which have been ‘reprogrammed’ to be stem cells – has provided an important impetus for the field. These stem cells are free of the ethical concerns associated with the use of embryonic stem cells, while making it possible to cultivate organs from the patient’s own material. Ultimately, organs-on-a-chip should lead not only to greater knowledge of diseases and to new medicines but also to a significant reduction in the number of laboratory animals needed to carry out scientific medical research.

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Mummery and Passier are regarded as international authorities in the field of stem cell research. The development of organs-on-a-chip, however, is a prime example of a multidisciplinary field in which the latest insights from stem cell biology, microfluidics, engineering, materials science and genetics all come together. This requires close cooperation, not only between scientists from different disciplines but also with partners from industry. Passier and Mummery, both researchers at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), have accepted an additional position at the University of Twente with the aim of bringing together disciplines and establishing long-term cooperation between the two institutions. Stimulating cooperation and joining forces is also a driving force behind hDMT, the Institute for Human Organ and Disease Model Technologies, of which Prof. Mummery is head. This initiative involves nine research institutes and industrial partners which share the goal of ensuring that the Netherlands is at the forefront of organ-on-a-chip technology.

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